James McClure (Unionist politician)
William James McClure MBE (c. 1926 – 3 August 2014) was a Unionist politician based in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, who served as President of the Democratic Unionist Party.[1] McClure died on 3 August 2014 at the age of 88.[2]
McClure was first elected in 1975 to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention representing Londonderry.[3] He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1982 for the same constituency.
In 1977 he was elected to Coleraine Borough Council and remained a member until his death,[4] serving as Mayor from 1983-1984 and from 1997-1999 and as Deputy Mayor from 1982-1983, 1985-1993 and 2004-2005. He also served on the Coleraine Policing and Community Safety Partnership.[5]
McClure was a fundamentalist Protestant and a member of the Independent Orange Order. He was an opponent of commercial trading, gambling and football games being played on Sundays, arguing that "the Christian Sabbath is a day for God not for gambling. It is a day for worshipping the Saviour, not for sport."[6]
References
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by G. A. McIlraith |
Mayor of Coleraine 1983–1984 |
Succeeded by William King |
| Preceded by Pauline Armitage |
Mayor of Coleraine 1997–1999 |
Succeeded by Norman Hillis |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by William Beattie |
Chairman of the Democratic Unionist Party 1981?–2000? |
Succeeded by Maurice Morrow |